Let's analyze Love Vigilantes' brilliance!

Have you ever wondered how Barney and Hooky managed to clang their guitars together in harmony so wonderfully on Love Vigilantes? I have been listening to this song on and off for the past 20 years and I love it just as much today as I did back then.

I was also wondering how many guitars are played on this song? I used to think there were two but upon closer inspection it now sounds like three guitars! You can especially hear them during the breakdown. So my question is, who played the third guitar? Gillian? I didn't know she could play guitar! She fookin rocks if that's the case!

Speaking of the guitar breakdown, is it me or was it a fluke that this part of the song came kicks sooooo much ass? I mean, the difference that 30 second riff by Barney makes at the break has an enourmous impact on the overall quality of the song. It turns it from a fantastic song to a fucking GODLY song! I find myself rewinding that part all the time.

And Stephen's drumming is another ingredient that polishes this track immensly. His beat and the way it consistently bangs itself along perfectly with the guitars is nothing short of impressive.

I don't think they can make another song like Love Vigilantes again. It's so infectious it's like a fluke.

Where does it rank amongst your top NO songs?

Yes, Gillian plays guitar on Love Vig.

i think the guitars were probably all done by Barney on the Album , but live Gillian Did play the song Whilst barney Sang(he had a hard time singing and playing the guitar at the same time)

LV is one of my Favorites, definatly top 5 NO songs in my Opinion

Sounds great on Low-Life but I have yet to hear a live recording of it that close close or surpasses it. Well, the rendition with sexual suggestions comes close.

Rule of thumb--if no keyboards then Gillian is playing guitar. She even played guitar for Joy Division when Barney cut is hand.

what concert for JD?

But Barney is the one doing the edgy riff during the breakdown....right?

JV wrote: what concert for JD?

One at Eric's in Liverpool. Can't remember the date, though.

Hooky once said in an interview it took them 6 months to write TPK as their follow up hit to Blue Monday, but Love Vigilantes came about in 45 minutes.

I have also heard Barney describe it amusingly as a 'fookin country song'.

It's a favouruite of mine too - that guitar bit is class!

Shug wrote:

Hooky Bass Monster wrote:

I have also heard Barney describe it amusingly as a 'fookin country song'.

Aye, I think it was either WOMAD or Finsbury when it was introduced as a "Redneck" song.

No-one's mentioned RETRO yet?

'Redneck'? It was WOMAD Shug with that nice intro. It is a little known fact that Retro is a play on words with my surname. For me, Love Vigilantes was a grower, but would be one of my top five songs. Super!

I took my some time to really love this song. I see it as a parody on war- and country songs. ("with our rifles and grenades and some help of god..." - marvellous line)

The "edgy" guitar solo towards the end was so good because Barney was on Acid when he recorded that bit.Am i right?

Personally I loved hearing this as the first song at the NYC concert. Pulling out that old school harmonica thingy was neato too.

melodica , not harmonica, yeah them Busting that out First in NYC gave me chills

Stockholm Monster wrote: The "edgy" guitar solo towards the end was so good because Barney was on Acid when he recorded that bit.Am i right?

WHAT??????????????????

Can anyone confirm this????????

Yeah I read that too. There was a thread that talked about the songs they created on drugs and PCL, Murder, Love Vig and TPK were all done on Acid.

I was at WOMAD. I got an audience tape off a stall the day after. Barney said, "this is a country song. Alright, a redneck song" on the intro to Love Vigilantes. This gig was a real pisser for me cos I got a black eye while watching the Fall the night before. There was a bit of a ruck at the front and I got twatted for no reason. It was cold for July and I was ill equipped for camping two nights in the cold! The rest of the line up was shite apart from the Pogues. I had a job interview the week after which I attended with a black eye. I didn`t get it.

Personnaly, I prefer the full-length version of this song to the album version. Only available as a hidden track on disc 5 of Retro (limitted edition), though. :(

Ben wrote: Personnaly, I prefer the full-length version of this song to the album version. Only available as a hidden track on disc 5 of Retro (limitted edition), though. :(

Hmm, Yes, Know that version well!?! My favourite version is the Wild Mix that Rocket Mick sent me, love it.

Buffer Low wrote:

Ben wrote: Personnaly, I prefer the full-length version of this song to the album version. Only available as a hidden track on disc 5 of Retro (limitted edition), though. :(

Hmm, Yes, Know that version well!?! My favourite version is the Wild Mix that Rocket Mick sent me, love it.

???????

Where do we get the full-length version and that Wild Mix???

Solitude wrote:

Shug wrote:

Hooky Bass Monster wrote:

I have also heard Barney describe it amusingly as a 'fookin country song'.

Aye, I think it was either WOMAD or Finsbury when it was introduced as a "Redneck" song.

No-one's mentioned RETRO yet?

'Redneck'? It was WOMAD Shug with that nice intro.

i've always thought johnny cash could've done something great with the song.

• great point - cash would've been great. in his absence, what about jeff tweedy? or put some real alt country twang in it with the old crow medicine show?

Isamu wrote:

Where do we get the full-length version and that Wild Mix???

What's your email address Isamu?

Ben wrote: Personnaly, I prefer the full-length version of this song to the album version. Only available as a hidden track on disc 5 of Retro (limitted edition), though. :(

What the huh? I have the special bonus disc 5 from Retro and I can't find any 'hidden' track. Is this a joke?

Buffer Low wrote:

Isamu wrote:

Where do we get the full-length version and that Wild Mix???

What's your email address Isamu?

Isamu99@sbcglobal.net :)

And while you're at it can you please send me this alledged "Full Length" version from Retro? :)

Isamu wrote:

Isamu99@sbcglobal.net :)

And while you're at it can you please send me this alledged "Full Length" version from Retro? :)

You have mail, tell me what you think.

Since when did New Order do hidden tracks? I didnt think it was their thing.

Love Vigilants end guitar riff was done by Barney on acid as I read it in an interview somewhere. He said it was impossible to play without being under the influence cos its so racy.

Also, Love Vigilants is New Orders remaking of Vietnam (which ironically they later covered). If you listen to the lyrics of both songs you will notice more than a few similarities.

I rate Love Vigilants highly. Steve even quoted as saying it was their first "proper" song (due to the harmonica into).